Regulators delay vote on Hutchinson Island gas line funds

ATLANTA - The Georgia Public Service Commission on Tuesday postponed a decision whether to approve more money for a project that would bring natural gas to Hutchinson Island.

The state regulators are waiting to hear more information about the developer's request for $450,000 to help pay for running 2,580 feet of pipe under the Savannah River to the island. The state Public Service Commissioner earlier this year agreed to grant $66,000 for the pipeline project.

The money comes from the Universal Service Fund that Atlanta Gas Light collects partly to run lines to areas without natural gas service. Commissioners want to know if any of the future residential and commercial development plans expected to come to the island should be factored into the application.

The current funding request, which Brampton Plantation LLC filed March 11, only included plans to build 161 homes and townhouses at the Reserve at Savannah Harbor to use natural gas.

Public Service Commission staffers are checking to see if the initial application has to be updated to include any other projects.

If any other customers are added to the application they would have to commit to start using natural gas within six months of the agreement.